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The Weather forecast had looked promising for the weekend so I planned to give Broad Cairn and Cairn Bannoch a go from Loch Muick , this is my first ever report on walk highlands so here we go.
An early start from Newtonhill on the Aberdeenshire Coast had me arriving at Loch Muick car park around 06.40am.
Geared up and set off around 07.00am on a frosty morning I think at around -4deg C with clear sky above , so things were looking good.
It wasn't long before coming across the local wildlife which was very pleasing indeed ,great numbers of Deer.
The route along the south side of the Loch very easy going and at this time in the morning I seemed to be the only one on it.
IMG_2660 by
stuartand1972, on Flickr
Views back the way to where I had set off from.
IMG_2664 by
stuartand1972, on Flickr
The Deer were not moving out the way for me for sure and were very close indeed just off the path to the left near the Boat House.
IMG_2675 by
stuartand1972, on Flickr
Again more views back the way.
IMG_2677 by
stuartand1972, on Flickr
IMG_2679 by
stuartand1972, on Flickr
Looking down Loch Muick with Broad Cairn in the background.
IMG_2671 by
stuartand1972, on Flickr
Stayed on this path instead of taking a right to take the other route which would have taken me up via Corrie Chash , I think I made the choice of the easier ascent.
Black Burn Photo
IMG_2683 by
stuartand1972, on Flickr
Looking across toward Lochnagar.
IMG_2687 by
stuartand1972, on Flickr
Toward the Allt Dubh where I would descend later on from Dubh Loch
IMG_2688 by
stuartand1972, on Flickr
Looking down at Glas Allt Shiel lodge.
IMG_2690 by
stuartand1972, on Flickr
Once up at a reasonable height you were now getting a view over to Glen Doll/Glen Clova areas and again more deer away over to the left on Sandy Hillock , didn't capture them on the camera this time. Mountain Hares starting to make a presence also , and every now and again a pair of Black Grouse would fly out the Heather.
IMG_2700 by
stuartand1972, on Flickr
Looking back down Loch Muick.
IMG_2705 by
stuartand1972, on Flickr
Looking over to Mount Keen in the distance.
IMG_2701 by
stuartand1972, on Flickr
Just about there for Broad Cairn and the boulder field that lies ahead.
IMG_2708 by
stuartand1972, on Flickr
Views whilst on Broad Cairn
IMG_2716 by
stuartand1972, on Flickr
IMG_2720 by
stuartand1972, on Flickr
Looking toward Cairn Bannoch which was the next stop
IMG_2719 by
stuartand1972, on Flickr
IMG_2723 by
stuartand1972, on Flickr
View back over to Broad Cairn from Cairn Bannoch
IMG_2724 by
stuartand1972, on Flickr
Looking across to Eagles Rock
IMG_2725 by
stuartand1972, on Flickr
Cairngorm Range to the North.
IMG_2727 by
stuartand1972, on Flickr
Now it was time to head for Dubh Loch which was a bit hard going as the ground was very boggy with all the snow melt ,but good all the same with great scenery surrounding whilst walking by the Allt an Dubh-lach waterfalls.
IMG_2732 by
stuartand1972, on Flickr
IMG_2734 by
stuartand1972, on Flickr
Wee bit of snow movement there , this is the slopes of Cairn Bannoch around the area where I made my descent and had to watch what I was doing around that area.
IMG_2736 by
stuartand1972, on Flickr
IMG_2737 by
stuartand1972, on Flickr
IMG_2739 by
stuartand1972, on Flickr
IMG_2741 by
stuartand1972, on Flickr
IMG_2747 by
stuartand1972, on Flickr
Looking back up to the waterfalls , the route down which I just taken.
IMG_2754 by
stuartand1972, on Flickr
I reach a bouldery Dubh Loch eventually and then head on down to Loch Muick.
IMG_2757 by
stuartand1972, on Flickr
IMG_2758 by
stuartand1972, on Flickr
IMG_2763 by
stuartand1972, on Flickr
IMG_2764 by
stuartand1972, on Flickr
A few photos of around Loch Muick and it was camera away and crack on back to the car park from the lodge.
IMG_2767 by
stuartand1972, on Flickr
IMG_2773 by
stuartand1972, on Flickr
IMG_2771 by
stuartand1972, on Flickr
IMG_2769 by
stuartand1972, on Flickr
IMG_2770 by
stuartand1972, on Flickr
All in all it had been a very enjoyable day and I would certainly recommend this route to anyone , views are fantastic around the area and spoiled for wildlife so I was.